Essay A Mortals Sense Of Immortality - 1802 Words

A Mortalamp;#8217;s Sense of Immortality To fear death is to fear life itself. An overbearing concern for the end of life not only leads to much apprehension of the final moment but also allows that fear to occupy oneamp;#8217;s whole life. The only answer that can possibly provide relief in the shadow of the awaited final absolution lies in another kind of absolution, one that brings a person to terms with their irrevocable mortality and squelches any futile desire for immortality. Myths are often the vehicles of this release, helping humanity to accept and handle their mortal and limited state. Different cultures have developed varying myths to coincide with their religious beliefs and give reprieve to their members in the face of†¦show more content†¦He seeks to justify his existence through the attainment of widespread fame and unmatched power. Nothing is said of his thoughts on death before he meets his soul-mate Enkidu, but one can draw from the utter fear and turmoil Gilgamesh feels after the passing of Enki du that he thought his might and accomplishments placed him above the rules and limits of other mortals. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It is somewhat surprising to me how readily Adam eats the fruit of the tree of knowledge, given his present blissful existence. The temptation of being on the same intellectual level as God in knowing both good and evil appears to be too much for Adam and his wife. Most likely their profound innocence also leaves them somewhat weak, and since before eating of the tree they know not what evil is, they couldnamp;#8217;t possibly know of the consequences of their crime and the severity of Godamp;#8217;s punishment. His exile of the pair from the Garden of Eden seems to be out of fear (or perhaps this was not what his plan was for man) as well as disappointment and rage, for He says in Genesis 4:22, amp;#8220;Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever;, and thus Adam and his wife are exiled. Their sin to achieve self-awareness has robbed them of any hope of immortality and presented them with the dilemma of death. Gilgamesh experiencesShow MoreRelatedThe True Meaning Of Life1370 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing, we have to live with the realization, that this will is going to be frustrated, that this will all end, that we will die. Furthermore, we have to live with the sense that our lives, our conscience, will no longer exist – the worst thing that could perhaps happen to us, our will. This is the true meaning of what is means to be mortal. So, it is fully logical to see why some would want to live forever, to become immortal. For instance, on one side of a spectrum, there is the non-human animals, whichRead MoreThe Death Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh889 Words   |  4 Pagesexpand upon. The story of Gilgamesh starts out explaining the might and power of this king. Proclaiming Gilgamesh’s demi- god status as a â€Å"perfect† being the gods created by imbuing him with mighty strength and powers. One would assum e him to be above mortal limits being two parts god and one part man. Therein lies the problem, since one third of him is human, he is affected by the all-encompassing factor humankind faces, which is death. At first Gilgamesh knows he is not meant to live forever but hisRead MoreAthanasia: Human Impermanence and the Journey for Eternal Life in the Epic of Gilgamesh1740 Words   |  7 Pageswarrior in order to obtain immortality. For centuries there have existed individuals who yearn for everlasting life. 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With the help of Enkidu, Gilgamesh sets out on a quest for immortality. Th e theme of the inevitability of death is prominent as shown by his fear, experience, and acceptance. Gilgamesh’s fear of death is what ultimately makes him the king his is in the end of the poem. Death is something in life everyone fears. PeopleRead MoreOdyssey and Calypso1027 Words   |  5 Pagesoffer to become immortal, he would have to stay on the island with Calypso for the rest of his life. Calypso kept him in the back caves trying to get him to forget his life and stay with her. It was starting to work until Athena showed up and talked sense into Odysseus. Circe is also a Goddess. She also wants to have Odysseus marry her and stay with her forever. She lives on her own island that she rules over. Once again she gave Odysseus the choice to become immortal but there was one condition,Read Morequot;Because I Could Not Stop for Deathquot; Essay1154 Words   |  5 Pagesmore than time on earth. 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Gilgamesh s fear of death again becomes evident whenRead MoreThe Concept of God in The Iliad by Homer Essay1214 Words   |  5 Pagesan obvious theme with gods possessing limits and imperfections, not perfect, omnipotent, and omniscient(360). The gods in the time of these selections obviously reflect society, unlike the first definition, the only difference is they possess immortality (Melchert 8). In the Odyssey, the goddesses Circe and Kalypso both expected lifelong commitments from the mighty Odysseus. Both of the goddesses promised great things to the hero, including godhood. Odysseus could refuse both goddesses. Human